RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 1 sourcesThe Chicago Bears are heading into one of the most important training camps in recent history. It's Year 2 with head coach Ben Johnson and Year 3 with quarterback Caleb Williams, and the team is banking on that pairing to help deliver them to their first Super Bowl championship since 1985.
In addition to the expectations placed on Chicago due to the personnel leading the way, they also have recent success to build on, which sets expectations even higher. The Bears went 11-6, won the NFC North and won their first playoff game since 2010, so the next goal is to repeat their division-winning season and then follow it up with even more playoff wins.
Last season had its great moments, but Chicago can’t rely on a defense with a lackluster pass rush or an offense that stalls early in the game before creating an epic comeback. Instead, they must work on being a more well-rounded team from start to finish. That is where training camp comes in as they prepare to take that next step.
There are a handful of players who are most important when it comes to having a strong camp. Their success in 2026 could be the difference between the team winning and losing.
WR Rome Odunze
With DJ Moore now with the Buffalo Bills following an offseason trade, the Bears' young receivers have to take over the lead. That starts with Rome Odunze, who has had an up-and-down start to his NFL career. As a former top-10 pick, the Bears have a lot invested in his success. This training camp is important for him as he looks to build on his chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams and play a key role in the team’s overall offensive attack. With the emergence of Luther Burden III in 2025 and two solid tight ends in the mix, there isn’t as much pressure on Odunze, but seeing him become a star would give the Bears another elite option.
LT Braxton Jones
Braxton Jones is getting a fresh start with Chicago following Ozzy Trapilo's ruptured patellar tendon, which is expected to sign the former second-round pick for most of the 2026 season. Now, Jones has an opportunity to make a strong impression for his next team. Jones has never been a bad left tackle, but he’s never been elite either. He’s always left more to be desired. For the second straight summer, this left tackle job is Jones' to lose with Trapilo sidelined. With the line as a whole much improved since the last time it was his full-time job, Jones has a chance to succeed in a very important position.
EDGE Montez Sweat
Chicago won’t have as good of a season if their pass rush is as inept as it was in 2025. They went 11-6 in spite of the fact that they mustered the seventh-fewest sacks (35) in the NFL. The Bears also likely won’t lead the league in takeaways again, which makes the defensive line even more important. A handful of players on the roster, whether it be on the interior or exterior of the line, are looking to help them take a step in that regard. Montez Sweat is the leader among them. He hasn’t panned out as well as the Bears were hoping when they first traded him, but he’s still a solid edge rusher coming off a double-digit sack season in 2025. If he can pick up his game in 2026, the rest will follow. It starts with a good camp, staying healthy, and being motivated to prove doubters wrong.
CB Jaylon Johnson
The Bears need their healthy corners and members of the secondary to have a big year, just in case their pass rush doesn’t pan out the way that they are hoping. With Kyler Gordon already on the physically unable to perform list, they are already looking for everyone to step up. That means that Jaylon Johnson must play to his potential, which is one of the best corners in the game. Johnson had a tough year last year because of groin injuries, where he missed half of the season and never recovered. He's coming into training camp healthy, which should allow him to be strong out of the gate. It’s a big year for Johnson to prove that he is worth the money that Chicago is paying him, especially on a defense that has question marks.
C Garrett Bradbury
When Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman unexpectedly retired at the age of 27, the Bears were immediately in a pickle. Their offensive line was mostly how they wanted it until that happened. Part of their response was trading for veteran center Garrett Bradbury. He’s a good player with pedigree, but his spot is not locked in as the team drafted Logan Jones in the 2026 NFL Draft. If Bradbury wants to start for Chicago, he must have a good camp. Ben Johnson will not hesitate to start the player who had a better showing in camp. The long-term goal for the Bears is to have Jones as the guy, but Bradbury will be given the chance to lead the way early in 2026.
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 Chicago Bears players who need a strong training camp
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.